So, what's your _________ 3rd party lens?

1. Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD
2. Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD
3. Tamron SP 35mm f/1.4 Di USD

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Tronhard wrote in post #19177943
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My most used 3rd party lens is ... The Sigma 60-160 Sport lens
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I never knew there was such a lens! . Will have to look into that. . Could be very useful for habituated woodland megafauna, if it has a large enough aperture.

I can't help but to think of how much more useful 40-160mm would be. . Curious as to why they didn't make it wider on the short end? . That would help to better differentiate it from the 70-200mm range.


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Tom Reichner wrote in post #19178147
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I never knew there was such a lens! . Will have to look into that. . Could be very useful for habituated woodland megafauna, if it has a large enough aperture.

I can't help but to think of how much more useful 40-160mm would be. . Curious as to why they didn't make it wider on the short end? . That would help to better differentiate it from the 70-200mm range.

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It's the updated next gen "Bigma" (ie: the old 50-500mm.)

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #19178153
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It's the updated next gen "Bigma" (ie: the old 50-500mm.)
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Hmmmmm. . Then it must be the 60-600mm? . But Trevor said 60-160. . Guess it's a typo ..... when I Google it, there isn't any 60-160mm coming up.

I have long wanted an f2.8 zoom lens that is somewhere in the neighborhood of 40-160mm. . This range would be extremely useful to me, yet nothing close seems to be made.

I do have a Canon 50-200mm f4.5 L lens ..... the range is very useful, but the AF is so slow and clunky that it is borderline unusable for moving subjects. . And f4.5 isn't very good at blurring messy backgrounds in forest environments. . Sad that Canon chopped 20mm off the short end of that lens in the newer versions. . I can only hope that some 3rd party manufacturer makes something similar ..... the so-called "normal" focal lengths don't really work very well for me and how I like to shoot.

Sigma did make a 50-150mm, but when I looked into buying one, I found that it was made for crop bodies only, so basically the same field of view as a 70-200mm on full frame ..... which is not at all useful to me. . I already had a 70-200mm, and got rid of it because the range was so awkward to work with.


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Tom Reichner wrote in post #19178160
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Hmmmmm. . Then it must be the 60-600mm? . But Trevor said 60-160. . Guess it's a typo ..... when I Google it, there isn't any 60-160mm coming up.

I have long wanted an f2.8 zoom lens that is somewhere in the neighborhood of 40-160mm. . This range would be extremely useful to me, yet nothing close seems to be made.

I do have a Canon 50-200mm f4.5 L lens ..... the range is very useful, but the AF is so slow and clunky that it is borderline unusable for moving subjects. . And f4.5 isn't very good at blurring messy backgrounds in forest environments. . Sad that Canon chopped 20mm off the short end of that lens in the newer versions. . I can only hope that some 3rd party manufacturer makes something similar ..... the so-called "normal" focal lengths don't really work very well for me and how I like to shoot.

Sigma did make a 50-150mm, but when I looked into buying one, I found that it was made for crop bodies only, so basically the same field of view as a 70-200mm on full frame ..... which is not at all useful to me. . I already had a 70-200mm, and got rid of it because the range was so awkward to work with.

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There is a Tamron I am fond of, (it's only f/2.8 for part of the zoom range), but the range is similar to what you are looking for, the TAMRON 35-150mm f/2.8-f/4
https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …9vQf-UcMqHJBoCdS0QAvD_BwE


I too find that zoom range to be most useful! (It is in fact listed on the previous page in my updated list of favorite 3rd party lenses.) I love this lens for bridging the range between the "Standard" 24-70mm and 70-200mm. I find both those lenses extremely limiting when used alone. They almost NEED to be used in a pair.

Sadly this particular Tamron does NOT have Tamron's top tier AF,. but it is relatively quick, quiet and it is consistently accurate. It does have "VC"/ IS, and is just a great well built lens. I don't know how it's speed would stack up against the old Canon L you have, but I suspect it might be faster.

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CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #19178175
There is a Tamron I am fond of, (it's only f/2.8 for part of the zoom range), but the range is similar to what you are looking for, the TAMRON 35-150mm f/2.8-f/4

That's great that there is a lens in that focal length range. . May be able to live with f4 at the long end. . Would be very useful for photographing large, highly habituated mammals, such as deer, Elk, and Bighorn Sheep. . I'm going to check it out. . Thanks!

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CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #19178175
I too find that zoom range to be most useful! (It is in fact listed on the previous page in my updated list of favorite 3rd party lenses.) I love this lens for bridging the range between the "Standard" 24-70mm and 70-200mm. I find both those lenses extremely limiting when used alone. They almost NEED to be used in a pair.

Yeah, I have never found the "normal" focal lengths to be very useful. . Having to use two lenses, each mounted on a separate body, is a very awkward way to work, and I often miss the shots I want because of it ..... and when I don't just miss the shot altogether, I am forced to compromise and settle for an awkward framing that I do not like, because I run out of "zoom" on both ends of the range.

"Normal" focal lengths ..... it's almost like they were developed mostly for photographers who shoot people - like they're based on what lengths work best on the human body at "normal" distances that people are usually photographed at. . So of course they would be awkward for someone like me, who has little to no interest in photographing other humans.

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CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #19178175
Sadly this particular Tamron does NOT have Tamron's top tier AF ..... I don't know how it's speed would stack up against the old Canon L you have, but I suspect it might be faster.

I have no doubt at all that it would be much faster. . My 50-200mm is from the 1980s, when autofocus was just coming out ..... it's probably the slowest autofocus system ever in all of history!


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My most used lens is probably the Canon 35F2 IS, but I do have a number of lenses by Sigma and Tokina. My most used and sharpest lens of these is the Sigma 70F2.8 Art. It is incredibly sharp, and obviously sharper than the Sigma 50F2.8 macro lens.
It handles well, has accurate AF, and is easy to hold steady for sharp photos.

Extreme UWA: Samyang 10 mm F/3.5 Premium XT . FF lens.
At F/8 it beats any other similar lens out there, sharp into the corners, no noticeable distortion, just love it.

Most used: TTartisan 50mm F0.95

Sharpest: Sigma 105 F1.4

Most creative: Nikon 200mm F2

The only third party lens I use appreciably these days is the Samyang 14/2.8. Manual Focus version, good for an occasional landscape or interior, and I intended to use it for some night landscapes, but never have followed through.

When I first started in SLR photography, about 2003, a Sigma 14mm was my only wide angle on my 1.6 crop camera!

Wow. It has been years since I've been on POTN. I somehow got notified via email about this thread and then I looked and realized I started it! lol

How is everyone doing? Geez.

Still got my Sigma 30 F1.4!!! And my only other 2 lenses are Sigma 50 f2.8 Macro and Canon 85 f1.8!

Greetings to you all...

LightRules wrote in post #19189685
Wow. It has been years since I've been on POTN. I somehow got notified via email about this thread and then I looked and realized I started it! lol

How is everyone doing? Geez.

Still got my Sigma 30 F1.4!!! And my only other 2 lenses are Sigma 50 f2.8 Macro and Canon 85 f1.8!

Greetings to you all...

Welcome Back!

LightRules wrote in post #19189685
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Wow. It has been years since I've been on POTN. I somehow got notified via email about this thread and then I looked and realized I started it! lol
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Welcome back!

Looks like your return has swiftly earned you a new title.

LightRules wrote in post #19189685
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How is everyone doing? Geez.

Greetings to you all...
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Doing quite well! . Greetings back to you, as well.


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oh geez cyberdyne up to it again! I think my most recent nickname was something like "flat out embarrassing".. so actually my new name I prefer haha.

good to reconnect with you guys...

LightRules wrote in post #19190225
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oh geez cyberdyne up to it again! I think my most recent nickname was something like "flat out embarrassing".. so actually my new name I prefer haha.

good to reconnect with you guys...
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Looks like I just got a new one, too!

And it's not disparaging like the old one, so I'm quite okay with it.